Catamenial device



Dec. 17. 1935. E. c. HAAs CATAMENIAL DEVICE Filed June 2. 1934 Patented Dee. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a catamenial device and to means for manufacturing, packing and using the same. It relates more particularly to a catamenial device of the type illustrated in applicants Patent No. 1,926,900 and copending application, Serial No. 672,145 now Patent No. 1,964,911, of which this application is a continuation in part.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a catamenial device of this character which will have a maximum of expansion when in use; a minimum of size when not in use; which will insure the removal of all of the bers of the catamenial core when withdrawn; and which will straighten and elongate itself to a minimum diameter during withdrawal.

Another object of the invention is to provide an easily disposable and efficient means for pack.- ing and protecting the catamenial core until ready for use which will also serve as an applicator for inserting the core in the vagina.

Another object of the invention is to provide efficient means for forming a piece of absorbent cotton into a small, compact self-sustaining core.

A further object is to provide a catamenial absorbent device of the insertion type which will prevent any harsh or sharp edges from contacting the tissues.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy and eiciency. These will become more apparent from the iollowing description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numei-als refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:-

Fig. 1 illustrates an absorbent strip as employed in the manufacture of the device.

Fig. 2 illustrates the strip of Fig. 1 as it appears in the finished compressed condition or core, ready for insertion in the applicator.l

Fig. 3 illustrates the core in place in an applicator ready for use.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the applicator of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 illustrates the core in place in an alternate form of applicator.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the mechanism employed for compressing the strip of Fig. 1 to the core of Fig. 2.

As described in the said patent and copending application, catamenial devices of this character are designed to eliminate all external pads, belts, etc., and are employed internally in the vagina. Such devices comprise an absorbent member to be placed in the vagina with a depending, flexible withdrawing member by means of which the .5 absorbent member may be withdrawn.

Heretofore such devices have been objectionable due to the fact that they were unsanitary; inconvenient and disagreeable to insert; dim-- cult to withdraw when filled with absorbed fluids; l0 and liable to separate in the vagina so as to leave fibers or a portion of the pad remaining therein. The. device described in the following specification produces an article, which avoids all these objectionable features. l5

Commercial absorbent cotton is furnished in rolled strips of uniform width. Owing to the process of manufacture, the cotton fibers in the strip extend in a general longitudinal direction so that the strip has relatively more tensile 20 strength in a longitudinal than in a lateral direction. This parallelity of fibers is utilized in attaining some of the objects of this invention.

A strip of the above type of absorbent cotton is cut laterally so as to provide absorbent strips, such as indicated at I0, of a length equalling the former width of the original strip from which the strips I0 are cut. In the strips I0 the fibers naturally extend laterally so that the strips could be easily pulled apart in a longitudinal direction, but would resist pulling apart in a lateral direction. To increase the longitudinal strength of the strip, a thread is stitched as indicated at I l throughout the length thereof. This thread nrmiy ties 3.11 of the mami fibers together and J5 produces a strip which resists separation both laterally and longitudinally. It isv preferred to stitch this thread II with a chain stitch, such as employed for closing flour sacks and the like, and to continue the stitching beyond the extremity of the strip I0 to form a flexible, chainstitched withdrawing member I2.

The next step in the manufacture of the device is to force the strip I0 into a die and com- 45 press it under high pressure from both the sides and the ends to form a hard, cylindrical core I3 with the withdrawing member I2 extending therefrom. The natural result of compressing the strip is to convolute it upon itself so that the seam II might assume a position in the core I3 as indicated in broken line in Fig. 3. The die with which the core I3 is pressed preferably does not extend to the extreme end of the core. This allows a mushroom-like end I4 to form. 'Ihe end 55 Il is o! greater diameter and of less density than the remainder of the core.

The compressed core I3 is then loosely slipped into the extremity of a cardboard tube with the withdrawing member I2 extending therethrough, and with the mushroom-like extremity I I covering, protecting and extending beyond one extremity of the tube.

A typical die for accomplishing the compressing operation is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 6. Such a die would consist of a female block Il, in one side of which a receiving groove I8 is formed with a concave, semi-cylindrical, side wall I9. A side compressing plunger moves into the groove I8. The face of the plunger 20 contains a semi-cylindrical concavity 2|. A plunger 22 is positioned above the die I'I so as to Venter the cylindrical opening between the side wall I8 and the concavity 2 I.

In use, the strip of Fig. 1 is forced into the receiving opening I8. The plunger 2| is then moved inwardly to force the strip to a cylindrical form or core and impart the initial side compression. The plunger 22 then descends to impart the final end compression. A space 23 is left about the bottom of the die to allow the mushroom extremity I4 to expand therein. A groove V24 accommodates the withdrawing member I2.

The cardboard tubes form applicators for inserting the cores in the vagina. They may be used as a double tube, such as shown in Fig. 3, or as a single tube, such as shown in Fig. 5. The double tube comprises an outer tube I5 in which au inner tube I6 is telescopically' fitted. The core I3 is inserted in the extremity of the tube I5 as shown in Fig. 4 with the inner tube I6 inserted therebehind. The outer tube I5 may be employed alone without the inner tube I6 as shown in Fig. 5, if desired. It will be noted that the tube I5 not only forms an applicator, but also a convenient method o f packing, marketing and protecting the individual cores.

The device is used by inserting the tube I5 in the vagina and, if the inner tube I6 is employed,' then pressing upon the inner tube to cause it to telescopically pass into the outer tube and force the core therefrom into the vagina leaving the withdrawing member I2 depending therefrom. If the outer tube only is employed, the mushroomlike extremity I4, which protects the walls of the vagina form injurious contacts with the end of the tube during the insertion operation, engages the' vagina walls to maintain the core in place as the tube I5 is withdrawn.

It is desired to call attention to the fact that the tubes, being made of cardboard, will quickly soften and disintegrate in water so that they may be discarded in a toilet bowl and flushed away. The natural moisture of the secretions present in the vagina causes the core to expand from its highly compressed condition as the fluids are absorbed.

When it is desired to remove the core, the withdrawing member I2 is drawn upon. This, owing to the convolutions of the strip, causes the Istrip to straighten and be withdrawn in the elongated uncompressed condition of Fig. 1.A rl`his facilitates' the withdrawing operation and reduces the possibility of the absorbed iiuids being pressed from the absorbent.

The tube I5 allows the core to be conveniently inserted; the end Il prevents any injury; the straightening convolutions allow easy withdrawal; and the laterally extending fibers, in combination' with the longitudinal tie member or seam II, bind the entire structure so that all possibility of leaving portions or fibers in the vagina is avoided. Thus al1 of the objects of the invention are accomplished.

The entire assembly of core and tube is sterilized and wrapped in cellophane or a similar protective enclosure, and is ready for the market. The strip or core need never be touched with the hands.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope ofthe appended claims, 1vvithout departing from the spirit of the inven- Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent 1. A combined container and applicator for a catamenial device of the type consisting of a compressed cylindrical core of absorbent material, comprising: a first cardboard tube of a diameter to snugly receive said core and containing the latter; a second cardboard tube contained within the first tube with its first extremity in contact with said core and with its other extremity projecting from said first tube so that when said latter extremity is forced within said first tube, said first extremity will force said core from said first tube.

2. A combined container and applicator for a catamenial device of the type consisting of a compressed cylindrical core of absorbent'material, comprising: a first cardboard tube of a diameter to snugly receive said core and containing the latter; a second cardboard tube contained within the first tube with its rst extremity in contact with said core and with its other extremity projecting from said first tube so that when said latter extremity is forced within said first tube, said first extremity will force said core from said first tube, said second tube being of a diameter to frictionally engage the interior wall of the first. tube to hold said tubes together.

3. A combined container and applicator for a catamenial device of the type consisting of a compressed cylindrical core of absorbent material, comprising: a rst cardboard tube of a diameter to snugly receive said core and containing the latter; a second cardboard tube contained within the first tube with its first extremity in contact with said core and with its other extremity projecting from said first tube so that when said latter extremity is forced within said first tube, said first extremity will force said core from said rst tube, said second tube being of a diameter to frictionally engage the interior wall of the rst tube to hold said tubes together, said tubes being substantially equal in length so that said second tube will project from said first tube the length of said core when the latter is in place therein and will pass completely through said first tube when said core is expelled therefrom so that there will be no projection of said second tube after the expelling operation.

EARLE C. HAAS. 

